College football: Oregon makes a case for No. 2

By Ralph D. Russo
Associated Press

Published: Sunday, Aug. 2 2015 3:27 p.m. MDT

Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla, right, and quarterback Bryan Bennett both carry the football over the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of their NCAA college football game against Arizona in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012. Lyerla was credited with the touchdown for breaking the plane first as Oregon won 49-0.(AP Photo/Don Ryan) (Don Ryan, Associated Press)

Oregon was overwhelming and now the Ducks are No. 2 in the AP Top 25, jumping LSU to get in line behind No. 1 Alabama.

And No. 4 Florida State (1,340 points) is right behind the third-ranked Tigers (1,346).

A case could be made for all three as the second-best team in the country and the jockeying should continue for a while.

First, a quick recap: While LSU was slogging through a 12-10 victory at Auburn, Florida State was racing away from Clemson, 49-37 on Saturday night.

Oregon was last up and Ducks were at their breath-taking best against Arizona, beating the Wildcats 49-0 at Autzen Stadium. The Wildcats came into the game unbeaten and ranked No. 22.

The voters in the media poll were swayed. Oregon received 1,414 points.

Oregon's Keanon Lowe, right, and Daryle Hawkins celebrate Hawkins touchdown during the first half of their NCAA college football game against Arizona in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Don Ryan) (Don Ryan, Associated Press)

Oregon has outscored its opponents 211-73 but hasn't played a road game. LSU had been just as dominant at home before going to Auburn (1-3). LSU did play a Pac-12 team at home and beat Washington 41-3. How much better is Arizona than Washington? Fair question.

As for Florida State, the Seminoles also have yet to play outside their home stadium, and started the season with two games against FCS teams, including the sadly overmatched Savannah State.

So where is this going?

The Ducks finally hit the road this week, playing at Washington State on Saturday. Florida State plays at South Florida, before getting back into the Atlantic Coast Conference with a road trip to North Carolina State.

LSU is back at home next week to face Towson, which should be a lot like Florida State playing Savannah State, before going to Florida.

Conclusion: Lots still be learned.

MOVING UP: Bill Snyder is up to big things again in the Little Apple. No. 7 Kansas State moved up eight spots after beating Oklahoma 24-19 in Norman on Saturday night.

The architect of the Miracle in Manhattan has a top-10 team for the first time since September 2003, led by tough-running quarterback Collin Klein.

As always, there were plenty of people skeptical about the Wildcats coming into this season. They won 10 games in 2011, but eight came by a touchdown or less. Were they lucky or good.

Well, they've been awfully good again.

MOVING DOWN: Bob Stoops and the Sooners were sent tumbling in the rankings, and left to explain another home loss.

Oklahoma went from No. 6 to No. 16 after falling to Kansas State at Owen Field, a place where the Sooners are 78-4 under Stoops, but have now lost games the past two seasons when they were ranked in the top 10.

IN AND OUT: No. 18 Oregon State, Rutgers and Baylor made their first appearances of the season in the Top 25 after winning on the road Saturday.

Along with UCLA, Michigan and Arizona exited the poll.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Another first for the SEC. The best football conference in the country became the first to have four of the top six teams in the AP rankings with No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 LSU, No. 5 Georgia and No. 6 South Carolina.

ODDS AND ENDS: No. 10 Notre Dame is in the top 10 for the first time since 2006. Florida State has its best ranking since October 2005 and South Carolina checks in with its best ranking since 2006.